Spraying device



March 18, 1941. F. a. BRUNNER SPRAYING DEVICE Filed June 23, 1938INVENTOR. Ef/"CSffl Era/M262)" BY 25 M ATTORNEYS 305 Patented Mn. 18,194

UNITED STATES) PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to spraying devices, but morein particular to a device of this character which utilizes the ordinarycity water supply as the spraying medium and which affords means forautomatically dissolving and mixing with the water a fertilizer or othercompound, such as a germicide or insecticide.

The object of the invention, therefore, is to produce a simple andeifective device of this kind which can be used in connection with anordinary garden hose tospray lawns and shrubbery and simultaneouslyapply fertilizer or some com-' pound adapted to destruction of insectpests.

Details of the invention and its operation are described hereinafter inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a sideview of the complete spraying device, partly in section; I

Fig. 2 is a view of the mixing unit detached from the other parts and asseen from below; and

Fig. 3 is a top view of the jar or flask which holds the fertilizer orother compound to be dissolved and mixed with the spray.

Referring to the drawing, the mixing unit hereinhefore referred tocomprises a generally tubular conduit portion l, and a threaded cap 2,which are cast in one piece, preferably of aluminum. This casting, aswell as the other parts, are shown in full size in the several figuresof drawing.

The cap portion 2 of the casting serves as a closure member for theglass flask or container l4, and is internally threaded to cooperatewith the threaded neck i3 ofthe flask. Rubber gaskets l2 are used inorder to make a water tight connection.

The tubular portion l of the casting has a semi-cylindrical wall whichmerges into the upper wall of the cap, and provides a channel above thecap through which water passes from the hose 6 to the nozzle 9. Toprovide for connecting the hose, the part I is internally threaded at Hto receive the usual coupling 5. There is a shoulder at 3 against whichthe gasket 4 is compressed by the end of the coupling. At the oppositeend the part i is provided with external threads I for securing thenozzle 9. A gasket 8' is interposed to make a water tight connection atthis point also.

The generally tubular bore which extends through part i of the castingis constricted or reduced in cross-section by an annular ridge iii. Inorder to establish communication between the main channel and theinterior of the cap, two

small openings l5 and I6 are provided. These openings are preferablydrilled after the casting is made. and should slope slightly forward, asshown. The location of the hole [5 is not'particularly critical, buthole [6 should open into the main channel at the forward edge of theannular ridge iii, as shown in the drawing.

It will be seen that the invention comprises essentially the mixing unitand the flask, and is adapted for use .with ordinary equipment such asis customarily found oh the average household premises. Thus the hose 6may be the usual garden hose and the nozzle 9 may be the nozzle usuallysecured to the coupling 5. The mixing 1'5- unit is simply interposedbetween the coupling and the nozzle, by first unscrewing the nozzle fromthe coupling and replacing it with themixing unit, after which thenozzle is screwed onto the mixing unit, opposite the coupling. It may bedesirable,however, in some cases, to provide a special form of nozzle,which may then be furnished along with the other parts.

The mixing unit could be made of the proper size to flt the ordinaryMason jar, but I have found that this is unsatisfactory, because it isimpossible as a practical matter to obtain a water vice 'of this kindthat the parts be capable of.

hand assembly, for the flask requires refilling from time to time, and Ihave found that in order that the average person may readily screw thecap down tight enough to obtain a good seal, the size of the neck of theflask should not be much if any larger than as shown in the drawing. Theshape of the flask is also of some importance. As shown in Fig. 3, theflask may be flattened and fluted at the sides so that it may be firmlyheld with one hand while the cap or mixing unit is being screwed down.

The construction and relation of the several parts having beendescribed,the operation of the invention will now be briefly explained.

For this purpose it will be assumed that the flask It has been 'fllledwith a soluble fertilizer compound, as indicated at l8, which may be ingranular form, and that the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 1. Whenthe water is turned on, it follows the main channel through the tubularbore of part i of the casting and emerges from the end of the nozzle 9as a stream or spray, the character. of which may be regulated in theusual manner. The direction of the water flow is indicated by arrows.

The flask'immediately fills with water, due to the communication withthe main channel through the openings l5 and It As soon as the flask hasbecome fllled, the flow-of water through the constricted opening at theinternally project ing ridge ll creates a difference in pressure whichwithdraws water from the flask through the opening I, and simultaneouslyestablishes a flow of water into the flask through the opening l5. Thusthe openings II and I8 constitute a branch of the main channel throughwhich a small quantityof water flows into and out of the flask. Thestream of water entering the flask is diverted to the rear as it passesout of the slopingaperture l5, and sets up a circulation inside theflask, the water passing down the side until it reaches the compound andthen flowing over the surface of the compound and upward to the apertureit. The arrows show the direction of flow, which is of moderate velocityinsufllcient to agitate or stir up the compound to any substantialextent.

The compound is carried oil and mixed with the main stream by theprocess of dissolving it gradually at the top and removing it as asolution. Some fine particles, if there are any, may be stirred up andcarried off in suspension, but with most fertilizer compoundsandinsecticides, which are soluble in water, such action is not reliedonand does not take place to any extent because of the low velocity ofthe circulation. The force of the incoming stream at opening i5 issufllcient, however, to insure a continuous flow of water downward andacross the upper surface of the compound, which is gradually taken up insolution, carried out into the main stream through opening I 6, andmixed with the main stream as it passes outward and through the nozzle9.

The arrangement described has several distinct advantages. Since thecompound is all passed out of the as a solution, with the possibleexception of a few fine particles, there is no danger of clogging up theaperture it. Another advantage is inherent in the relatively moderaterate at which the compound is introduced into the main stream, whichentirely avoids any danger of obtaining too concentrated a'solution suchas might cause damage to lawns or foliage. Although a weak solution isproduced, therefore, it is none the less effective, because the sprayingoperation is simply continued until the contents of the flask havebecome exhausted. It must be remembered that witha device of this kind,the application of water is usually of paramount interest, as insprinkling a lawn, for instance, and the application of fertilizerduring the sprinkling reasonable rate of performance will beaccomplished well within the time necessarily consumed in the mainoperation.

In view of the foregoing, I have found it generally unnecessary toprovide any adjustment for regulating the flowof water through theflask,

but prefer to make the apertures i5 and ID of a' mon commercialfertilizer, will be dissolved-and carried off in the spray in aboutfifteen minutes.

When the device is not required, it can be desaid cap embodying atubular channel extendaaaaa'r'a tached in a few seconds and the hoseconnections are restored to their normalconditlon. However, the mixingunit can be left permanently in the hose line if desired, as it is smalland causes no inconvenience. In such case, the 5 flask is removed and isreplaced .by a simple threaded blank or closure member which may beprovided.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have devised an exceedinglyefllcient and convenient l0 spraying device, which is moreover veryeconomical to'manufacture and can be sold at a low price. The device hasbeen shown in its preferred form, but changes and modifications arepossible with in' the principles of the invention. I do not, therefore,desire to be limited to the exact form shown and described, but desireto include and have protected by Letters Patent all forms andmodifications which come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a spraying device, a combined cap and semi-cylindrical conduitsection constructed in the form of a one-piece casting, the cap portionof said casting being internally threaded to engage the threaded neck ofa jar or flask, the said conduit section diminishing in size from oneend to the other, external threads at the smaller end of said section toreceive a threaded nozzle, internal threads at the larger end to receivea hose coupling, an annular ridge inside said conduit intermediate theends thereof, said ridge having a streamlined tapering contour on theside toward the internally threaded end of said section, and twoopenings in the casting extending from the interior of the cap to theinterior of the conduit, one of said openings intersecting the forwardedge of said annular ridge and the other being located between saidridge and the coupling end.

2. In a spraying device, a combined cap and 40 semi-cylindrical conduitsection constructed in the form of a one-piece casting, the cap portionof said casting being internally threaded to engage the threaded neckof-a jar or flask, the said conduit section diminishing insize from oneend to the other. external threads at the smaller end of said section toreceive a threaded nozzle, internal threads at the larger end to receivea hose coupling, means inside said conduit for creating a difference inpressure along the bore of the conduit when water flows therethrough,said means comprising a ridge which is tapered toward the direction offlow, and openings extending from points of different pressure in theconduit to the interior of the cap and terminating at the interior faceof the cap, whereby a -.circulation of variable depth may be establishedin a flask to which the cap portion of said casting is secured, one ofsaid openings being so located that it intersects the forward edge ofsaid ridge.

3. In a spraying device, a flask having an externally threaded neck andadapted for holding a quantity of water-soluble compound, a threaded capfor said flask adapted to close the same,

ing across the top of the flask when the cap is in place, meanscomprising internal and external threads, respectively, for connecting ahose coupling to said channel at one end and a nozzle to said channel atthe other end, whereby a stream of water may be caused to flow throughsaid channel, meansincluding a tapered ridge obstructing the channel andapertures connect- 1 ing said channel with the interior of the cap fordiverting a part of the stream into and out of the flask, one of saidapertures intersectingthe forward edge of said tapered ridge and theother of said apertures being arranged to direct the water entering theflask down one side thereof until it reaches the surface of the compoundtherein, where it dissolves a part of said compound before passingupward and out of the flask through the other aperture, and the saidapertures being 01' predetermined small size such that the velocity ofcirculation through the flask is insumcient to agitate the compound andcarry it oilf in suspension.

FORREST B. BRUNNER.

